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Apr 27, 2024

Grandma's Marathon Runner Comments

Back to Grandma's Marathon Information & Reviews

Course 4.5

Organization 4.7

Spectators 4.4

Number of comments: 298 [displaying comments 51 to 61]

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A. B. from Arlington, VA (6/23/2013) "Awesome course and hospitality" (about: 2013) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Grandma's Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my 14th marathon. Definitely on par with Boston and NYC in terms of organization and depth of field. There were some very fast runners here across all age groups! We had some foggy conditions, but the rolling hills were beautiful and the Lemon Drop Hill at 22 was no big deal. I highly recommend this race for anyone looking for a travel adventure and a PR. The race time company they use is prompt and provides some interesting stats that I had never seen before (e.g., how many people you passed, and how many people passed you between two points). Everyone should check out this race! Definitely in my top 3.
J. B. from Downers Grove, IL (6/22/2013) "Fast, friendly, well-organized marathon" (about: 2013) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Grandma's Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon, but I've been running for 11 years (high school, college, and post-collegiately), including a number of VERY large road races: the Boilermaker, the Soldier Field 10 Miler, etc. Grandma's Marathon was possibly the best organized race I've ever run in: the aid stations were perfect (I was near the top 200 of 7000ish starters) - great volunteers, lots of options, well stocked. The course was fine, though I had little to compare it against. Pretty much flat except a little rise at mile 22 and some annoying twisty stuff toward the end that wouldn't have bothered me if I hadn't been dying. I was also impressed by the spectators - on a cold, stormy, overcast weekend they were out and excited about the event! Even along the countryside, families were out picknicking or playing music or just cheering people along. Very friendly atmosphere. There's a pretty good range of runners, though I did find myself pretty much alone miles 15-18, except for one or two people. The finish was also well organized, with good options for beverages and food, as well as free samples of some things. Gear check was very easy, no hassle. Overall a wonderful experience. Duluth also has some very nice restaurants for a small town, so check those out before or after your race!
G. K. from Des Moines, IA (6/17/2013) "Everything was just right!" (about: 2012) 3 previous marathons \| 1 Grandma's Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was a fantastic race! The organization was top notch from start to finish. Water stations were well distributed and it was great to have two gel locations. The finisher shirt and medal were well designed and it was nice that only finishers received the shirt. The course was nice and flat with some great views of Lake Superior. There are a few hills and turns towards the end but nothing terribly difficult. It was easy to feel them simply because of where they are in the race. With nearly 5,800 finishers the course wasn't too crowded but I was never alone. The only issue with these smaller races is the crowd support. There were areas with great groups of people but plenty of places where I wouldn't see anyone for a while. It was great that the 1/2 marathon runners never got in the way of marathon runners since they started half way through the course and an hour prior to the marathon start. Overall I would highly recommend this race. We had a wonderful experience and I earned my BQ and then personal best!
A. J. from Toronto, ON (5/28/2013) "My hometown race!" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 6+ Grandma's Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I live in Toronto now; I recently ran Toronto & Ottawa's Marathon despite a rib injury a year ago and plan to run/walk/(crawl on all fours!) Grandma's this year. Everything people say about this race getting the organization right, from the expo, speakers, gel shots, medals/shirts at the end are all true. I just ran a marathon where, at the halfway point we were stampeded by half marathoners. Grandmas starts their half AT the half, rather than this chaos of the half marathoners racing to finish on the same course the marathoners are plugging away on. It just makes more sense. My only suggestion: unless you're familiar with the marathon circuit you have no idea what Grandmas Marathon means when you see the shirts. I suggest it be called Grandma's Duluth Marathon (mention 'Duluth' and people immediately realize what you're talking about). Most other marathons have incorporated the name of the city into the race name and it just sounds better IMO.
S. G. from Owen Sound, Ontario (2/17/2013) "Absolutely outstanding." (about: 2012) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Grandma's Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 As owners of a running store, travelling 1500 km to Grandma's was well worth it. Been to Boston, NY, Chicago and so forth; This race sits with them as the best in the country. From the expo which reminded my wife of the 80's with her Dad where our kids walked with their bag held open while samples were tossed in, to the jet fighter start, great (unchanged) route, the train to the start, winners names in the stars of the Canal Park sidewalks, the tee shirt (only) when you finish which is the way all races should be, to the love affair this city has with its' race on race day - fantastic! You have to do a lot of races to enhance your understanding how much the Race Director here does it right. And please people who comment on this or any other race about the course being long because of 'what my Garmin said' would you please understand that your course is measured correctly and that you ran that much extra in going off of the correct line to running the route!
Tyler McCandless from Colorado (9/27/2012) "Downhill + fast with fun finish through downtown." (about: 2011) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Grandma's Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I did this race in 2011 and it's still my personal best. That year the weather was perfect, cool with a touch of light rain and slight tailwind. Unfortunately due to the rain there were not a ton of spectators lining the point-to-point course but there were still several big groups people out there. Race is well organized and the finish is great as you run through the downtown.
M. B. from Indiana (7/17/2012) "Fabulous, well-organized race!" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Grandma's Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 As many others have pointed out, this is an extremely well-organized event (I've done 18 other marathons, and I think this one had the best organization of all, especially considering the number of participants). Communication before the race was excellent, and I appreciated the heads-up about the construction that blocked one of the nearby roads. My friend and I stayed at one of the dorms, and at check-in we were given directions to the expo (in order to avoid the construction) and information about restaurants nearby. I was a bit nervous about traffic at the expo since the 5K would be finishing just before we arrived, but by 7 PM most of the runners had left and we found a parking place easily. The shuttles were great, and we arrived early and were able to relax in the sun until the start. There wasn't much shade on the course, but luckily the tempature dropped about 2 hours into the race and from then on the weather was perfect. Spectators were few and far between until the last 4-5 miles, but the scenery was pretty enough that I didn't miss them. However, there were tons of spectators for those last few miles-all of whom were loud and enthusiastic-which made the end of this race much easier than other races! Best of all were the volunteers and groups who passed out food during the last 4-5 miles, including fresh fruit (bananas, oranges and strawberries) as well as the usual candy. It was enough that I didn't even need my last GU! The food at the end was varied and there was plenty for everyone, and I really appreciated the changing areas for runners (we've all changed in a port-a-potty and while it can be done, it's never a good experience). All in all, a wonderful race! I just wish I lived closer so I could do it every year :)
S. A. from St. Paul, Minnesota (6/22/2012) "Top-notch in the Northland" (about: 2012) 2 previous marathons \| 1 Grandma's Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Let me begin by saying that my comments will be biased because I was fortunate enough to BQ at Grandma's, and I lived in Duluth from 1992-98 and met my fabulous wife there. But ... Grandma's is top-notch. After running and 'finishing' the canceled-because-of-heat Green Bay Marathon on May 20, I registered for Grandma's and found a room at the University of Wisconsin-Superior dorms. From the start-line coach-bus transportation through the medals around the neck, Grandma's knows how to do everything right. Sure, fan support is not huge from Miles 0 through 19. But it's pretty good, and we need the fans from Mile 20 onward and they're there, let me tell you. (I used to be one of them.) The water stops are well-stocked, the volunteers are super nice, and the city (by and large) welcomes the traffic interruptions. What a joy. As for lodging, having lived in Duluth, I get why they have the two-night-stay minimums, because the innkeepers rely on Grandma's weekend to make some dough. But I got a UWS dorm for one night with no problem. OK, so the lot outside the expo charges for parking. So ... park across the freeway, and walk. The only constructive criticism I have were the port-a-potties at the start. Need more. I was expecting a ton of them based on prior comments. Not so. And sheriff's deputies patrolling the woods to make sure we didn't urinate as God intended? That would've been funny, had I not been worried about making it through the outhouse line on time. But I did. And I BQ'd. In the beautiful city on the lake where I met my wife and spent seven glorious years. Green Bay can learn a lot from its sister city on the Great Lakes. Let me tell you. They might have an NFL team, but they're bush league compared to Duluth when it comes to marathons.
N. H. from CA - California (6/22/2012) "Race Lived Up to Hype!" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Grandma's Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This race was really awesome - this is my 10th marathon and likely the best race thus far. Course was nice and flat, weather cooperated, really good crowd support (people lined the course every few miles when there was another town), very good finish & post race area. Only drawbacks; start was so congested I could not get up toward the right pace pack thus I had to run through tons of +3:40 runners. As well, the pace groups spread across the entire course and were tough to pass. One last drawback (tiny nit) was the folks between Twin Harbors & Duluth played loads of non-'pump-up' music. How about some more Flo Rida & Pitbull next year! Thanks for a great race!
J. H. from Florida (6/21/2012) "One of the best" (about: 2012) 11-50 previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Loved the course. Weather was good. Duluth was a great host city. UMD dorms couldn't have been more convenient. Saturday race made the evening rehydration more fun! Ran with 3:25 Pace Group. Finished with pacer Darris in 3:24:26!

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